TORONTO – He has held the job since March 24, but Larry Robinson becomes the Devils’ coach tonight.

He must begin making painful decisions. Don’t be surprised if likely Rookie of the Year Scott Gomez is among the agonizing choices.

Faced with his first adversity of these playoffs, the first time the Devils have trailed a series, Robinson says he is considering lineup changes for Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the Leafs here tonight.

He wouldn’t specify his plans, but allowed “maybe” to a breakup of the line on which Gomez has played with less than spectacular results. Robinson had Steve Brule alternating with Gomez in practice yesterday, along with Sergei Nemchinov and Claude Lemieux, who is struggling with his own playoff demons. He also might change Steve Kelly, who has been playing with Bobby Holik and Randy McKay.

In the playoffs, there is little time for patience. Coaches must act quickly, since another loss tonight would send the Devils back to the Meadowlands with an 0-2 deficit. If they square the series, they will have wrested home-ice advantage from Toronto,

The Devils need more scoring, immediately, and Brule is a finisher up from Albany. Gomez has tailed off significantly late this year, and Robinson was less than confident with his defensive play against Florida.

Whatever moves Robinson makes, they are likely to be aimed at putting more than one past Curtis Joseph tonight. Goals are their goal.

“The difference was that they buried their chances and we didn’t,” John Madden said. “If we bury ours [tonight], we’ll win.”

The Devils lost the opener 2-1 here Thursday on John Tucker’s third period goal, and their goal-scorers were left to blame themselves. Petr Sykora, whose second- period rocket was all New Jersey would get, hit the glass with a glorious chance to force OT in the final minute. Holik’s playoff drought reached 22 games.

And Lemieux, who has scored only two goals in his last 35 games, including the regular season, saw chance after chance bring nothing.

Perhaps tonight the Devils will have a little desperation, now that they must win four of six, and their illusion of sweep invincibility has been dispelled.

“We’ll see how hungry everyone is and how hard everyone wants to get back in it,” Martin Brodeur said.

Overconfidence is over.

*

Sergei Brylin has suffered a setback in his comeback from the right knee injury suffered in Game 2 vs. Florida. Although he is still being told the injury is only a bruise, the knee swelled and became sore after he skated earlier this week, and he has not skated since. He may test the knee this weekend.